ASCD Implementing The Every Student Succeeds Act Webinar Series

Enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) ushers in a new era for educators, students, and schools. Many of the federal requirements in the areas of accountability, assessments, and school improvement have changed, with many of the decisions about these policies now to be made at the state or local level. As implementation of these changes gets underway, join ASCD in a series of in-depth webinars focusing on key provisions of the new law including testing, accountability, professional development, and school improvement.

The Every Student Succeeds Act: What You Need to Know

Enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) ushers in a new era for students, educators, and schools. Many of the federal policies in the areas of accountability, assessments, and school improvement have changed, with many decisions now to be made at the state or local level.

Join ASCD's Government Relations team in an engaging webinar outlining the changes under ESSA. This discussion will provide useful information and ASCD's unique analysis of the new state testing options, the required accountability measures beyond test scores, when schools will be identified for improvement, and the improvement strategies available to them. You will also learn about

Changes to professional development programs, including a new definition of PD;

ESSA: The Good and the Bad About Testing

State standardized tests help to provide a snapshot of student performance, and results should continue to be disaggregated and reported publicly. However, student test scores provide an incomplete appraisal of student achievement and by themselves can offer a misleading depiction of student performance and school quality. Standardized tests alone should never be used for high-stakes purposes, and neither students nor educators nor schools should be ranked or rated based on test scores.

Join ASCD's Government Relations team in an engaging webinar outlining the changes under ESSA in testing and assessment. This discussion will provide information how the law allows states to limit the amount of time spent testing and decide how much weight to give tests in their accountability systems. You will learn about

The grades and subjects states are required to test;

State alternatives to a single summative test and district options for a high school test; and

How opt-outs are to be handled in light of specific participation rate requirements.

ESSA: Measuring Student Success Through Multimetric Accountability

Standardized test scores alone should never be used to evaluate students, educators, or schools. ESSA’s approach to accountability reflects a true political compromise: a reduced federal role combined with a requirement that states establish and hold schools accountable for performance goals for each student subgroup. Based on accountability system results, states must identify the lowest performing schools and those with underperforming student subgroups. Districts are then required to develop “evidence-based” interventions, with the input of teachers and school staff. If school performance continues to lag after district interventions, states are required to take more significant improvement action—but, unlike NCLB’s prescriptive federal approach, states and districts will now determine their own interventions.

Join ASCD's Government Relations team in an engaging webinar outlining the accountability changes under ESSA. This discussion will focus on shifting key decisions about accountability, educator evaluations, and school improvement to state and district authorities. You will also learn about

The inclusion of non-academic indicators in state accountability systems;

The criteria by which high school and elementary/middle school progress will be measured; and

Additional subgroups for which information has to be collected and reported.

ESSA: Meeting Students' Needs Under Title IV

Rather than continuing to authorize individual programs that support a well-rounded education, ESSA creates a block grant that provides formula funding to states and districts. Districts that receive funds under this block grant must spend at least 20 percent of their allocation on a well-rounded academic activity and 20 percent on an activity that supports safe and healthy students, and they may use some funds to expand the use of technology. This means that, although discrete funding streams will no longer be available to support programs such as physical education, district leaders can allocate funds from the block grant according to their schools’ needs, without the hassle of applying for a myriad of grants to support various activities.

Join ASCD's Government Relations team in an engaging webinar around meeting students’ well-rounded needs under ESSA. This discussion will provide information on how states are required to show how they are improving conditions for learning, including reducing bullying and harassment and addressing behavioral interventions that compromise student health and safety. You will also learn about

The programs that were consolidated and how their activities will still be supported;

The needs assessment districts must make to determine spending priorities; and

The percentages of funds districts must use on specific program areas like counseling and technology.

ESSA: Professional Development for Educators

ESSA recognizes that the learning and development of educators is essential to building their capacity to help students succeed, and it includes new provisions aimed to help educators grow. The law expands the definition of educator professional development to better support all school staff, including paraprofessionals. The federal definition of and requirements for highly qualified teachers are eliminated, although educators must still comply with state certification and licensure policies. ESSA also eliminates the NCLB waiver requirements for teacher evaluations—but it stipulates that if Title II funds are used for evaluations, multiple measures must be used to assess educators.

Join ASCD's Government Relations team in an engaging webinar outlining the definition and delivery of educator supports under ESSA. This discussion will focus on how the new law promotes personalized, ongoing, job-embedded activities for all school staff. You will also learn about

The new definition of professional development and program requirements;

The new expanded list of school personnel eligible to access PD funds; and

About the Presenters

David Griffith is the senior director of government relations, leading ASCD's efforts to influence education decision-making at the local, state, and federal levels and overseeing the development and implementation of the association's legislative agenda.